Dear Friends, Tuesday, October 14th, is Oregon's voter registration deadline. And this weekend -- October 11th and 12th -- is our last big chance to make sure everyone in Oregon is registered to vote. Supporters like you have already brought thousands of new voices into the political process, but there are still folks in communities just like yours who support Barack but are not registered to vote. That's why supporters are coming together across the state to reach out to their unregistered neighbors as part of our final statewide voter registration drive. Will you help register voters this weekend and take part in our last voter registration drive before the deadline? With the economy in crisis, it's more important than ever to change the way politics works in our nation's capital. But we can only do it by working together, because real change comes from the bottom up, not the top down. That means empowering people who have been left out of the political process or are just now old enough to add their voices. And there are thousands of unregistered voters across Oregon. Take a few hours this weekend to help bring change to Oregon -- make sure your family, friends, and neighbors are registered, and help Barack Obama win this important battleground state. Find a voter registration event near you and sign up today: http://or.barackobama.com/OregonVoters No experience is necessary to make a difference. All you need is energy and a commitment to change -- campaign staff will be there to support you with everything else. Thanks for your help, Jesse Jesse Bontecou Field Director Oregon Campaign for Change P.S. -- There are only 26 days left until Election Day, and this campaign's success is depending on supporters like you turning your enthusiasm into action. Come to a Get Out The Vote Summit this Sunday, October 12th, and learn how you can make sure every voter in Oregon has a chance to Vote for Change by November 4th: http://or.barackobama.com/ORgotvsummit
Portland, OR- Tomorrow, the Portland based developers of the Obama iPhone application and Congressman Earl Blumenhauer will unveil the tool to local supporters at the Mission Theater. These members of the design team will explain the purpose and campaign significance of the application, and a demonstration and networking event will follow broadcast of the second Presidential Debate. This event is an exciting opportunity to meet local members of the development team, find out about the iPhone application, and learn about opportunities to help the Campaign for Change in the final month of the Oregon campaign. WHO: The Honorable Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Raven Zachary, Jason Grigsby, Lyza Gardner, Aileen Jeffries, and John Keith, Portland-based co-creators of the Obama iPhone application WHAT: Unveiling of Obama iPhone Application & Second Presidential Debate Watch Party WHEN: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.- Doors Open for Portland Tech Community 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.- Welcome and Obama iPhone Application Demonstration 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.- Second Presidential Debate Broadcast 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.- More detailed Demonstration and Networking WHERE: Mission Theater & Pub 1624 NW Glisan Street Portland, OR
Yesterday, within the course of a few hours, the failure to pass the economic rescue plan in Washington led to the single largest decline of the stock market in two decades. While I, like others, am outraged that the reign of irresponsibility on Wall Street and in Washington has created the current crisis, I also know that continued inaction in the face of the gathering storm in our financial markets would be catastrophic for our economy and our families. At this moment, when the jobs, retirement savings, and economic security of all Americans hang in the balance, it is imperative that all of us - Democrats and Republicans alike - come together to meet this crisis. The bill rejected yesterday was a marked improvement over the original blank check proposed by the Bush Administration. It included restraints on CEO pay, protections for homeowners, strict oversight as to how the money is spent, and an assurance that taxpayers will recover their money once the economy recovers. Given the progress we have made, I believe we are unlikely to succeed if we start from scratch or reopen negotiations about the core elements of the agreement. But in order to pass this plan, we must do more. One step we could take to potentially broaden support for the legislation and shore up our economy would be to expand federal deposit insurance for families and small businesses across America who have invested their money in our banks. The majority of American families should rest assured that the deposits they have in our banks are safe. Thanks to measures put in place during the Great Depression, deposits of up to $100,000 are guaranteed by the federal government. While that guarantee is more than adequate for most families, it is insufficient for many small businesses that maintain bank accounts to meet their payroll, buy their supplies, and invest in expanding and creating jobs. The current insurance limit of $100,000 was set 28 years ago and has not been adjusted for inflation. That is why today, I am proposing that we also raise the FDIC limit to $250,000 as part of the economic rescue package - a step that would boost small businesses, make our banking system more secure, and help restore public confidence in our financial system. I will be talking to leaders and members of Congress later today to offer this idea and urge them to act without delay to pass a rescue plan.
Oregonians Affected by State's Economic Downturn to Participate in Discussion PORTLAND, OR - This Thursday, Oregon State Treasurer Randall Edwards and Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian will announce how Obama's Oregon economic plan with help Oregon's working families and host an economic forum alongside Oregonians affected by the economic downturn. As the country faces more job losses, rising high gas prices and financial turmoil on Wall Street, Oregon's economy has been severely affected. State unemployment reached 6.5 percent in August, leaving more than 123,000 Oregonians without jobs. Since President Bush took office, gas prices in Oregon have gone up 161 percent and housing prices continue to fall. Oregonians can't afford four more years of these same failed economic policies. Edwards and Avakian will discuss how Obama's Oregon economic plan will provide Oregonians with immediate economic and energy relief, real tax relief, as well as, how his plan will help those facing foreclosure and help get the Oregon economy back on track. WHO: Oregon State Treasurer Randall Edwards, Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, Oregonians effected by the economic downturn in Oregon WHAT: Forum announcing Obama's Oregon Economic Plan WHEN: Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. PST WHERE: Barack Obama's Campaign for Change Headquarters 3016 SE Division Avenue Portland, OR
In remembrance of the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Senator Obama released the following statement:
Today, we honor the memory of the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001, and grieve with the families and friends who lost someone they loved in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We will never forget those who died. We will always remember the extraordinary efforts of our firefighters, police and emergency responders, and those who sacrificed their own lives on Flight 93 to protect their fellow Americans. And we give thanks for the Americans defending us every day in our communities at home, and in our military abroad. On 9/11, Americans across our great country came together to stand with the families of the victims, to donate blood, to give to charity, and to say a prayer for our country. Let us renew that spirit of service and that sense of common purpose. Let us remember that the terrorists responsible for 9/11 are still at large, and must be brought to justice. Let us resolve to defeat terrorist networks, defend the American homeland, stand up for the enduring American values that we cherish, and seek a new birth of freedom at home and around the world.
